Shloka 163
नादेन रिपुसैन्यानां येषां संज्ञा प्रणश्यति । उस रथके शिखरपर बैठा हुआ वह वानर ऐसा जान पड़ता था, मानो शत्रुओंको भस्म कर डालना चाहता हो। उस ध्वजमें और भी नाना प्रकारके बड़े भयंकर प्राणी रहते थे, जिनकी आवाज सुनकर शत्रु-सैनिकोंके होश उड़ जाते थे
nādena ripusainyānāṃ yeṣāṃ saṃjñā praṇaśyati | rathasya śikharopaviṣṭaḥ sa vānara iva dṛśyate, śatrūn bhasma kartum icchann iva | tasmin dhvaje ca nānāvidhā mahābhayānakāḥ prāṇinaḥ santi, yeṣāṃ śabdaṃ śrutvā śatru-sainikānāṃ prajñā muhyati |
Vaiśampāyana disse: Só pelo bramido daqueles seres, os soldados inimigos perdiam os sentidos. No cimo do carro, aquele estandarte com a figura de um macaco parecia ansiar por reduzir os adversários a cinzas. Dentro desse pendão habitavam ainda muitas outras criaturas grandes e terríveis; ao ouvirem seus gritos, as tropas inimigas eram lançadas à confusão.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in warfare the mind is decisive: terror, sound, and symbols can shatter an opponent’s composure. Ethically, it suggests that disciplined power and psychological mastery may achieve victory by breaking morale rather than by indiscriminate violence.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a chariot-banner bearing a monkey figure and other fearsome beings. Their roaring cries are so dreadful that enemy soldiers lose their senses, indicating the overwhelming, intimidating presence of the warrior’s standard in battle.